Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 years to avoid (and the best years)
330 NHTSA owner complaints and 40 recalls across 8 model years, 2018 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 330complaints
- 40recalls
- 20reported crashes
- 6reported fires
- 16reported injuries
- 1reported deaths
Which Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 years should you avoid?
No Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 year has 37 complaints on file. The busiest years are the 2018 (87) and 2020 (69).
What are the best Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 years?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2022 (31), 2021 (43) and 2019 (47). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | 0.4× | 3 | 3 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 13 | 0.4× | 7 | 1 | 2 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2023 | 24 | 0.6× | 10 | 2 | 1 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 31 | 0.8× | 2 | 2 | 2 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2021 | 43 | 1.2× | 7 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2020 | 69 | 1.9× | 16 | 3 | 4 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2019 | 47 | 1.3× | 12 | 4 | 4 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2018 | 87 | 2.4× | 12 | 4 | 2 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 197 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain82 (42%)
- Electrical & infotainment55 (28%)
- Structure & body19 (10%)
- Brakes17 (9%)
- Steering, suspension & tires10 (5%)
Recalls (40)
Safety · 26V481000 · Jul 2026 · model years 2023, 2024
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Electrical system · 26V281000 · May 2026 · model year 2025
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Steering · 25V533000 · Aug 2025 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
A loose steering coupling can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 25V365000 · Jun 2025 · model year 2023
Improperly adjusted headlights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 25V379000 · Jun 2025 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
In the event of a crash, insufficient impact protection can increase the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 25V255000 · May 2025 · model years 2023, 2024
An incorrect fuse box can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Transmission · 24V862000 · Nov 2024 · model year 2024
Driveshaft separation can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V808000 · Oct 2024 · model year 2023
An incorrectly attached seat may not properly restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Structure · 24V658000 · Sep 2024 · model year 2024
A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Structure · 24V520000 · Jul 2024 · model year 2023
An improper air bag deployment increases the risk of injury in a crash. Overheated wiring can increase the risk of a fire.
Electrical system · 24V115000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2023, 2024
An 80-Amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Exterior lighting · 24V070000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Incorrectly aimed headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 23V880000 · Dec 2023 · model year 2023
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Structure · 23V854000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020
A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 23V445000 · Jun 2023 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V365000 · May 2022 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 22V232000 · Apr 2022 · model year 2020
An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 21V961000 · Dec 2021 · model years 2019, 2020
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Airbags · 21V527000 · Jul 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
Air bags and seatbelts that don't function as intended can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Safety · 21V354000 · May 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Structure · 21V197000 · Mar 2021 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020
The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 21V072000 · Feb 2021 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 21V058000 · Feb 2021 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Steering · 20V651000 · Oct 2020 · model year 2020
A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, If the wiring harness short-circuits, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Engine · 20V364000 · Jun 2020 · model year 2020
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Safety · 20V328000 · Jun 2020 · model year 2020
In the event of a crash, if the left-rear seatback latch fails, it can increase the risk of injury.
Safety · 20V068000 · Feb 2020 · model year 2020
An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 19V914000 · Dec 2019 · model year 2019
If an air bag label is in a foreign language, an occupant may not be aware of the risks to children sitting in the front seat, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Steering · 19V822000 · Nov 2019 · model year 2019
A loss of power steering assist would require a greater steering effort to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 19V788000 · Nov 2019 · model year 2019
The electric PRE-SAFE®-function and the seat belt pretensioners may not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 19V685000 · Sep 2019 · model year 2020
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's front airbag, the airbag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 19V540000 · Jul 2019 · model year 2020
An impaired Active Brake Assist may not automatically apply partial or full braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 18V838000 · Nov 2018 · model years 2018, 2019
If the passenger air bag is incorrectly displayed as 'ON' when it is not, a front seat passenger may be unaware that the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Steering · 18V840000 · Nov 2018 · model year 2019
A loss of electric power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Structure · 18V683000 · Oct 2018 · model year 2018
If the rear seat passengers cannot fasten their seat belts, they have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 18V610000 · Sep 2018 · model year 2018
Turn signals that are the wrong color may not be as easily recognized by other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 18V208000 · Mar 2018 · model year 2018
In the event of a crash involving driver air bag deployment, an improperly inflated air bag and/or an inflator rupture with sharp metal fragments might result in serious injury or death to the driver or to occupants.
Structure · 18V177000 · Mar 2018 · model year 2018
If the rear seat passengers cannot fasten their seat belts, they have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Body & glass · 17V715000 · Nov 2017 · model year 2018
If the sun roof panels detach from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash or injury for following traffic.
Airbags · 17V627000 · Oct 2017 · model year 2018
If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.